ASSUMPTION GRAMMAR SCHOOL
SPECIALIST SCHOOL FOR MUSIC WITH
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
24 BELFAST ROAD
BALLYNAHINCH
BT24 8EA
VOLUNTARY GRAMMAR SCHOOL
FOR GIRLS
DENOMINATIONAL
AGE RANGE: 11-18
ADMISSIONS NO: 120
ENROLMENT NO: 840
Telephone No: 028 9756 2250
Fax No: 028 97565341
Principal: Mr Peter Dobbin BA (Hons), PGCE, MSc, PQH (NI)
Chairperson Board of Governors: Very Rev Canon G McCrory PP
Email: admin@assumption.ballynahinch.ni.sch.uk
Website: www.assumptiongrammar.org.uk
OPEN DAY INFORMATION
Saturday 23 January 2016 – 10.00 am – 1.00pm - Principal’s address: 10.00 am & 12 Noon.
To Parents/Guardians naming Assumption Grammar School as a Preference on their child’s Transfer Form.
Entrance Assessment Results
Assumption Grammar School will give preference to, (apart from those who qualify either for Special
Circumstances or Special Provision), those pupils awarded a grade by GL in completing the GL Entrance
Assessment on Saturday 14th November 2015 or the supplementary GL Entrance Assessment on Saturday
5th December 2015 as specified by the School. In Section C of the Transfer Form parents/guardians must state
the GRADE achieved and attach to the Transfer Form a copy of the GL Entrance Assessment statement of
results which they receive on Saturday 30th January 2016.
Special Circumstances
Special Circumstances refer to the claim that as a result of medical or other problems a pupil’s performance in
the GL Entrance Assessment was affected.
Any parent/guardian claiming Special Circumstances must complete the documentation in the “Claiming Special
Circumstances Pack” available from Assumption Grammar School or from its website. Claims for Special
Circumstances should be made by 2.00pm on Friday 11th December 2015 using the SCR Form. Claims not
registered within this period may not be considered. Independent evidence in support of Special Circumstances
is not required to be produced at this stage. This documentation, together with the independent, verifiable
documentary evidence which corroborates the Special Circumstances claim, must be attached to the Transfer
Form and include the SC1 Form.
Further details can be found in the section ‘Note on Special Circumstances and Special Provision’.
Special Provision
Special Provision may be made by the Admissions Committee of the Board of Governors for girls:
a) who are transferring from primary schools outside Northern Ireland;
b) who have received more than half of their primary education outside Northern Ireland;
c) whose educational provision to date has been negatively affected by serious medical or other problems
which is supported by independent verifiable documentary evidence, and who have not taken either the GL
Assessment or its supplementary assessment.
1. For those pupils currently in P7 in Primary Schools in Northern Ireland, claims for Special Provision should
be made on Form SP1 and attached to the Transfer Form. Form SP1 is available from the school or its
website. Parents wishing to claim Special Provision should also forward a copy of Form SP1 directly to
Assumption Grammar School, by 4th March 2016.
2. After this date, claims for Special Provision should be made directly to Assumption Grammar School and
the South Eastern Region of the Education Authority Transfer Section notified.
Further details can be found in the section ‘Note on Special Circumstances and Special Provision’
VOLUNTARY SUBSCRIPTION
We ask parents to make an annual voluntary contribution towards the School Development Fund to help meet
the costs of additional facilities. A minimum of £60 per pupil is requested. Where there are two or more children
from the same family attending the school, a minimum of £20 each is requested for the second and third child.
Where there are more than three children from any one family attending the school at the same time, no fee is
required for the fourth child.
RESPECTIVE FUNCTIONS OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS AND PRINCIPAL IN RELATION TO
ADMISSIONS TO THE SCHOOL
The Board of Governors, having agreed the criteria for admissions, has delegated to the Admissions Committee,
consisting of 3 members of the Board of Governors, the Principal and the Vice Principals, the authority to decide
which particular applicants shall be admitted to the school in accordance with the admissions criteria.
ADMISSIONS POLICY
All girls residing in Northern Ireland at the time of their proposed admission to the school will be selected for
admission before any girl not so resident.
The Admissions Committee will not use as a criterion the position of preference given to the School on the
Transfer Form. This means that a pupil who has chosen Assumption Grammar School in any position on the
Transfer Form will be considered equally with those who have put this school as first choice.
IT IS THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARENT/GUARDIAN OF PROSPECTIVE PUPILS TO ENSURE
THAT ALL INFORMATION RELEVANT TO THE ADMISSIONS CRITERIA/SUB CRITERIA OF ASSUMPTION
GRAMMAR SCHOOL IS SUBMITTED EITHER ON THE TRANSFER FORM OR IS ATTACHED TO THAT
FORM AT THE TIME OF SUBMISSION TO THE SCHOOL FOR ADMISSION.
NOTE ON SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND SPECIAL PROVISION
The Admissions Committee will first consider applicants claiming that Special Circumstances or Special
Provision exist. Where it is determined that Special Circumstances exist, the Admissions Committee
will award, on the basis of the information available, an appropriate grade equivalent for the applicant.
Such applicants will then be considered with all other applicants who have received a GL Entrance
Assessment grade and the admissions criteria applied.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Special Circumstances refer to the claim that as a result of medical or other problems a pupil’s
performance in the GL Entrance Assessment was affected.
Special Circumstances must be supported by documentary evidence of a medical and/or other appropriate
nature in keeping with the Post Primary Transfer Consortium’s Entrance Assessment: Policy on “Access
Arrangements” and “A Guide to Claiming Special Circumstances for Children taking the GL Entrance
Assessment” available from the school website www.assumptiongrammar.org.uk or directly from the school
as required.
NB The existence of special circumstances DOES NOT in itself lead to automatic admission to the school. Each
case is considered on its own merits by the Admissions Committee.
Claims for Special Circumstances should be made by 2.00pm on Friday 11th December 2015 using the
appropriate form (SCR) available from the school. Claims not registered within this period may not be
considered. Independent evidence in support of Special Circumstances is not required to be produced at this
stage. This independent evidence will need to be attached to the Transfer Form at the time of application to the
school.
All documented evidence in support of any claim must be attached to the Transfer Form, using the SC1 Form,
and forwarded to the School via the South Eastern Region of the Education Authority in February 2016.
DETAILS OF MEDICAL OR OTHER PROBLEMS:
Where it is claimed that a pupil’s performance in the GL Assessment has been affected by a medical or other
problem, it is the responsibility of the parents/guardians to provide the precise details of the problem and append
independent evidence to the Transfer Form to corroborate its existence. Where the problem is a medical one
of short term duration which affected the pupil only at the time of the GL Assessment, the school will require the
production of evidence including dates that the pupil was examined by a medical practitioner in relation to the
illness at the time of the GL Assessment. This evidence should be provided on the headed note paper of the
medical practitioner and signed by him/her.
Where the problem is of a non medical nature it is the responsibility of the parents/guardians to provide the
precise details of the problem and append any appropriate independent evidence to the Transfer Form to
corroborate its existence. This evidence must be verified by an appropriate professional. Please refer to the
Policy on “Access Arrangements” and “A Guide to Claiming Special Circumstances for Children taking
the GL Entrance Assessment”.
EDUCATIONAL EVIDENCE:
Please note that sufficient documentary evidence must be provided by the parents/guardians applying
for Special Circumstances and accompany the Transfer Form and be verified by the Primary School to
enable the Admissions Committee to reach a decision.
The following information should be provided on Form SC1 in relation to the applicant:
1) All the applicant’s school standardised test results in English/Literacy and Mathematics/Numeracy
from the beginning of the Key Stage 2 period:
a) All test results must be dated and verified by the Primary School;
b) Results from all tests should be accompanied by the name of the standardised test and the supplier of test.
c) Results should include scores for English/Literacy and Mathematics/Numeracy;
d) Comparative information in respect of standardised test scores (for Years 5, 6 and 7) along with the GL
Assessment Grade achieved in relation to the other pupils (without names) in the applicants Primary 7 class
(where available).
e) Any other relevant material. Please note that InCAS assessment outcomes will not be accepted.
2) The Primary School’s comments on the pupil’s academic achievements in relation to the
standardised tests taken during Key Stage 2.
It is emphasised that the onus is on the parents/guardians to ensure that the above information is
provided by the Primary School. Failure to provide such information may result in the school being
unable to consider the application for Special Circumstances. Parents have a right to obtain such
information under the Education (Pupil Records and Reporting) Regulations (NI) 2009 as amended and
also the ‘Data Protection Act’. Further information on parents’ rights can be obtained from the
Information Commissioners Office at www.ico.gov.uk.
The Admissions Committee may decide, in relation to an applicant in this category of Special Circumstances,that
the grade which the applicant achieved in the GL Assessment is the grade which the applicant would have
achieved under normal circumstances.
Once a decision has been made the applicant will be considered alongside applicants within that category.
Please note that the judgement of Special Circumstances will be at the absolute discretion of the Admissions
Committee of the Board of Governors.
SPECIAL PROVISION
Special Provision may be made by the Admissions Committee of the Board of Governors for girls:
a) who are transferring from primary schools outside Northern Ireland;
b) who have received more than half of their primary education outside Northern Ireland;
c) whose educational provision to date has been negatively affected by serious medical or other problems which
is supported by independent verifiable documentary evidence, and who have not taken either the GL
Assessment or its supplementary assessment.
Applicants in categories a) and b) above, who wish to apply under Special Provision do not need to take the GL
Entrance Assessment or the supplementary assessment unless their parents/guardians so wish, in which case
the GL Entrance Assessment grade obtained would also be considered.
The Admissions Committee of the Board of Governors may require a suitably qualified person or body approved
by the school to make an assessment of the applicant’s ability. The Admissions Committee, within the operation
of its admissions criteria, will decide whether these children should be admitted on the basis that they fall within
the ability range of other pupils being admitted in that year.
For those pupils currently in P7 in Primary Schools in Northern Ireland, claims for Special Provision should be
made on Form SP1 and attached to the Transfer Form. Form SP1 is available from the school or its website.
Parents wishing to claim Special Provision should also forward a copy of Form SP1 directly to Assumption
Grammar School, by 4th March 2016. After this date, claims for Special Provision should be made directly to
Assumption Grammar School and the South Eastern Region of the Education Authority notified.
It is the responsibility of parents/guardians to provide precise reasons why the applicant qualifies for
Special Provision and to submit appropriate verified documentary evidence attached to the Transfer
Form.
Further guidance on applying for Special Provision is provided with the SP1 Form available from our school or
website.
Once the Special Circumstances and Special Provision applications have been considered and decisions made,
then the Admissions Committee will go through the process of allocating places to Year 8.
ADMISSIONS CRITERIA FOR YEAR 8 PUPILS TO ASSUMPTION GRAMMAR SCHOOL, BALLYNAHINCH
Assumption Grammar School will initially consider only those pupils who have taken the GL Entrance
Assessment and who have been awarded a grade or assigned a grade pursuant to “special circumstances” or
“special provision”. Information on the GL Entrance Assessment is available from the school or can be
downloaded from the school website at www.assumptiongrammar.org.uk
ALLOCATION OF PLACES
In order to determine which pupils will be accepted into Year 8, the following criteria will be applied in the order
set down:
A Pupils who have been awarded Grade A in the GL Assessment and also those pupils to whom Special
Circumstances or Special Provision apply and who on the documented evidence submitted appear to be of
comparable ability to pupils awarded Grade A.
B Pupils who have been awarded Grade B1 in the GL Assessment and also those pupils to whom Special
Circumstances or Special Provision apply and who on the documented evidence submitted appear to be of
comparable ability to pupils awarded Grade B1.
C Pupils who have been awarded Grade B2 in the GL Assessment and also those pupils to whom Special
Circumstances or Special Provision apply and who on the documented evidence submitted appear to be of
comparable ability to pupils awarded Grade B2.
D Pupils who have been awarded Grade C1 in the GL Assessment and also those pupils to whom Special
Circumstances or Special Provision apply and who on the documented evidence submitted appear to be of
comparable ability to pupils awarded Grade C1.
E Pupils who have been awarded Grade C2 in the GL Assessment and also those pupils to whom Special
Circumstances or Special Provision apply and who on the documented evidence submitted appear to be of
comparable ability to pupils awarded Grade C2.
F
Pupils who have been awarded Grade D in the GL Assessment and also those pupils to whom Special
Circumstances or Special Provision apply and who on the documented evidence submitted appear to be of
comparable ability to pupils awarded Grade D.
G Other Pupils.
If there are more applicants in a category under consideration (i.e. Grades A, B1, B2, C1, C2, D and Other
pupils) than there are number of places available, priority will be given in descending order to those who indicate
on the Transfer Form that they are:
(i)
Pupils who have a sibling presently enrolled at the school or already accepted for the coming year. (Name
and Form of sibling to be stated on Transfer Form).
(ii)
A pupil who is the eldest or only girl in her family, or a pupil who is the first girl in her family to transfer to
a Grammar school. This criterion covers ‘only’ children and will treat twins or other multiples as joint
eldest. For the purpose of this sub-criterion “eldest child of the family” will be interpreted in accordance
with Annex 2 paragraphs 3-5, “The Procedure for Transfer to Post-Primary Education”.
(iii)
A pupil who is entitled to Free School Meals. “Entitled to Free School Meals” will mean applicants who
are listed on the Education Authority register as entitled to Free School Meals at the date on which their
parent or guardian has signed their post-primary Transfer Form. If it is stated on the application form that
a pupil is currently registered as Free School Meal Entitled, and that claim is decisive in qualifying her for
admission, then that information will be verified. If it is found to be incorrect, then any place offered
because of it will be withdrawn.
(iv)
A pupil for whom Assumption Grammar School is the nearest Catholic Grammar School which caters for
girls. Distance will be measured from the pupil’s permanent place of residency to the front gate of
Assumption Grammar School using grid references provided by Land and Property Services.
(v)
A pupil whose sister has completed her grammar school education at Assumption Grammar School.
(Name and year of leaving to be stated on the Transfer Form).
(vi)
A pupil who is a daughter of a past pupil. (Mother’s maiden name and year of leaving to be stated on the
Transfer Form).
In the event that there are fewer applicants complying with a particular criterion than there are places available
or remaining, those applicants complying with that criterion will be admitted and the next criterion will be applied
to the remaining applicants.
In the event that there are more applicants complying with a particular criterion than there are places available
or remaining, those applicants complying with that criterion will go forward to be considered under the next
criterion and those not complying with that criterion will be eliminated.
In the event that there are more applicants than there are places available or remaining on the application of
the last criterion which can be applied, applicants will be selected for the remaining places on the basis of the
initial letter of the surname as identified on the birth certificate presented at registration for the Entrance
Assessment by 25h September 2015. The order is set out below:
F Mc R Q A N D X E I H Mac O’ P T L Y U C G J K W O M V S B Z
The order was determined by a randomised selection of the alphabet.
In the event of the surnames beginning with the same letter, the subsequent letters of the surname will be used
in alphabetical order using the above randomised selection. In the event of two or more identical surnames the
alphabetical (randomised) order of the initial of the forenames will be used. Where names cannot be separated
by this process, children will be accepted by date of birth with preference given to the oldest.
Where, after this process has been applied, any applicants continue to tie for a final place, places will be
allocated by randomised computer selection.
DUTY TO VERIFY
The Admissions Committee of the Board of Governors reserves the right to require such supplementary
evidence as it may determine to support or verify information on any application form/transfer form.
Parents/Guardians should note that they may be asked to produce verifying information pertinent to the school’s
admissions criteria. Original documents are required. Photocopies or facsimiles are not acceptable.
The provision of false or incorrect information or the failure to provide information within deadlines set by the
Admissions Committee of the Board of Governors can result in the withdrawal of a place or the inability of the
school to offer a place.
WAITING LIST POLICY
It should be noted that all those who have previously applied, but who have failed to obtain a place in the School,
will have their application held open until 30 th June of the year following application when their application is
deemed to have lapsed. Should a vacancy arise, the above criteria will be applied to select pupils from this
waiting list.
If the application is made by a child who arrived in Northern Ireland after the transfer process had been
concluded and the Admissions Committee determines that the child is suitable to be admitted, the school will
then seek Department of Education approval to admit the child as an additional place. If such approval is given,
the child will be admitted.
APPLICATIONS AND ADMISSIONS
Year
Admissions No
2013
2014
2015
120
120
120
Total Applications
ie. All preferences
165
140
165
Total Admissions
121
121
120